Chapter 76: Peace Offering

As the phone rang, Bella's expression shifted from calm to sheer panic at the sight of her father's name flashing on the screen. She looked at Reid, her eyes wide with worry. Reid gently grasped her hands, trying to calm her nerves, and assured her that everything would be alright. With a comforting glance, he picked up the call and activated the speaker, letting Bella listen in.

"Hello, Richard," Reid greeted in a measured tone, acknowledging the call.

"Reid, good to hear from you," Richard replied, his tone trying to sound congenial.

"How can I help you?" Reid asked, a hint of formality in his voice.

Richard hesitated briefly, clearly contemplating his words. "I wanted to apologize for our last conversation. Things got a bit heated," he admitted.

Reid didn't mince words. "Heated would be an understatement, considering you resorted to calling your daughter names," he retorted, his voice holding a tinge of reproach.

There was an awkward pause on the other end before Richard awkwardly